Arista Networks, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Arista Networks (NYSE: ANET) reported strong Q2 2021 results, with revenue hitting $707.3 million, marking a 30.8% increase year-over-year and a 6.0% rise from Q1. GAAP net income reached $196.9 million ($2.47 per share), up significantly from $144.8 million ($1.83 per share) in Q2 2020. Non-GAAP net income also increased to $216.8 million ($2.72 per share). The company launched innovative products, including a sub-100ns latency switch, underscoring its growth in cloud networking solutions. Outlook for Q3 anticipates revenue of $725 million to $745 million.

Positive

• Revenue increased by 30.8% year-over-year to $707.3 million.
• GAAP net income rose to $196.9 million, up from $144.8 million in Q2 2020.
• Non-GAAP net income reached $216.8 million, compared to $167.0 million in Q2 2020.
• Launched ultra-low latency switch, enhancing product offerings.
• Surpassed 50 million cloud network ports shipped.

Negative

• Guidance for non-GAAP gross margin anticipated lower at 63% to 65% for Q3.
• Challenges in navigating a difficult supply environment noted.

Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE: ANET), an industry leader in cognitive cloud networking solutions for large datacenter and campus environments, today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

Second Quarter Financial Highlights

• Revenue of $707.3 million, an increase of 6.0% compared to the first quarter of 2021, and an increase of 30.8% from the second quarter of 2020.
• GAAP gross margin of 64.2%, compared to GAAP gross margin of 63.7% in the first quarter of 2021 and 63.7% in the second quarter of 2020.
• Non-GAAP gross margin of 65.2%, compared to non-GAAP gross margin of 64.7% in the first quarter of 2021 and 64.7% in the second quarter of 2020.
• GAAP net income of $196.9 million, or $2.47 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $144.8 million, or $1.83 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2020.
• Non-GAAP net income of $216.8 million, or $2.72 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $167.0 million, or $2.11 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2020.

"Our record second quarter reflects continued momentum and diversification across our top verticals and product-lines," said Jayshree Ullal, Arista's president and CEO. “We are on the cusp of network software and data driven transformation and look forward to delighting many more customers."

Commenting on the company’s financial results, Ita Brennan, Arista’s CFO said, “We are pleased with the strong performance of the business in the quarter, as we continued to work with customers and partners to navigate a challenging supply environment.”

Second Quarter Company Highlights

• In Q2 2021, Arista surpassed 50 million cloud network ports shipped cumulatively.
• Arista Launches Sub 100ns Ultra-low Latency Switch for Financial Services – Arista announced SwitchApp for Arista 7130, a new ultra-low latency switch that cuts latency to less than a third of existing Arista solutions. SwitchApp is based on the latest programmable FPGA technology and is fully integrated with Arista EOS^® (Extensible Operating System).
• Arista Boosts Agility for Modern Enterprises - Arista announced CloudVision^® 2021, a further expansion of Arista's software-driven approach for modern enterprises. CloudVision 2021 delivers new automation capabilities designed to improve network agility and streamline enterprise business outcomes.
• Arista Networks Cognitive Campus Solutions - Campus networks are undergoing another massive transition in the post-COVID era. As administrators adapt to the shifting boundaries between the office and home around the world, the campus is evolving to distributed workspaces.

Financial Outlook

For the third quarter of 2021, we expect:

• Revenue between $725 million to $745 million;
• Non-GAAP gross margin of 63% to 65%; and
• Non-GAAP operating margin of approximately 37%

Guidance for non-GAAP financial measures excludes stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, and certain non-recurring items. A reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis (see further explanation below under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”).

Prepared Materials and Conference Call Information

Arista executives will discuss the second quarter financial results on a conference call at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time today. To listen to the call via telephone, dial (833) 968-2211 in the United States or +1 (778) 560-2896 from international locations. The Conference ID is 6062407.

The financial results conference call will also be available via live webcast on Arista’s investor relations website at https://investors.arista.com/. Shortly after the conclusion of the conference call, a replay of the audio webcast will be available on Arista’s investor relations website.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” regarding our future performance, including quotations from management, statements in the section entitled “Financial Outlook,” such as estimates regarding revenue, non-GAAP gross margin and non-GAAP operating margin for the third quarter of 2021 and statements regarding the benefits of new products and product enhancements, our leadership in cloud networking, the continued momentum and diversification of our top verticals and product-lines and the evolution of the campus market. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in or implied by the forward-looking statements including risks associated with: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business; insufficient component supply and inventory; increased costs of components; manufacturing capacity impacted by COVID-19 and increased lead times; interruptions or delays in shipments; the rapid evolution of the networking market; any failure to successfully pursue new products and service offerings and expand into adjacent markets; a decline in our revenue growth rate; unpredictability of our results of operations; adverse economic conditions or reduced information technology and network infrastructure spending; intense competition; expansion of our international sales and operations; investment or acquisition in other businesses; seasonality; our ability to attract new large end customers or sell products and services to existing end customers; our ability to increase market awareness of our company and new products and services; product quality problems; our ability to anticipate technological shifts and develop products to meet those technological shifts; our ability to protect, defend and maintain our intellectual property rights; vulnerabilities in our products and failure of our products to detect security breaches our intellectual property rights; and tax, tariff, import/export restrictions; and other future events. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect us can be found in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, but not limited to, our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. You can locate these reports through our website at https://investors.arista.com/ and on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the company as of the date hereof and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and accompanying table contain certain non-GAAP financial measures including non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP operating margins, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted net income per share. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, certain non-recurring charges or benefits, and the income tax effect of these non-GAAP exclusions. In addition, non-GAAP financial measures exclude net tax benefits associated with stock-based awards, which include excess tax benefits, and other discrete indirect effects of such awards. The company uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing its financial results and believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors as an additional tool to evaluate ongoing operating results and trends. In addition, these measures are the primary indicators management uses as a basis for its planning and forecasting for future periods.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the comparable GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures are subject to limitations, and should be read only in conjunction with the company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures do not have any standardized meaning and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. A description of these non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of the company’s non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures have been provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release, and investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation.

The company’s guidance for non-GAAP financial measures excludes stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, and other non-recurring items. The company does not provide guidance on GAAP gross margin or GAAP operating margin or the various reconciling items between GAAP gross margin and GAAP operating margin and non-GAAP gross margin and non-GAAP operating margin. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures guidance to the corresponding GAAP measures on a forward-looking basis is not available because stock-based compensation expense is impacted by the company’s future hiring and retention needs and the future fair market value of the company’s common stock, all of which are difficult to predict and subject to constant change. The actual amount of stock-based compensation expense will have a significant impact on the company’s GAAP gross margin and GAAP operating margin.

About Arista Networks

Arista Networks is an industry leader in cognitive cloud networking solutions for large data center and campus environments. Arista’s award-winning platforms deliver availability, agility, automation analytics, and security through CloudVision^® and Arista EOS^®, an advanced network operating system. For more information visit www.arista.com.

ARISTA, CloudVision, CloudEOS and MSS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of Arista Networks, Inc. in jurisdictions around the world. Other company names or product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Additional information and resources can be found at www.arista.com.

ARISTA NETWORKS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)
		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
Revenue:
Product		$	566,467			$	421,413			$	1,105,612			$	832,319
Service		140,852				119,157				269,269				231,280
Total revenue		707,319				540,570				1,374,881				1,063,599
Cost of revenue:
Product		225,779				176,432				444,212				340,061
Service		27,362				20,049				51,219				41,198
Total cost of revenue		253,141				196,481				495,431				381,259
Gross profit		454,178				344,089				879,450				682,340
Operating expenses:
Research and development		143,293				111,544				275,780				224,698
Sales and marketing		70,625				51,237				141,645				108,323
General and administrative		20,895				14,319				36,368				32,668
Total operating expenses		234,813				177,100				453,793				365,689
Income from operations		219,365				166,989				425,657				316,651
Other income, net		1,719				8,256				3,294				20,413
Income before income taxes		221,084				175,245				428,951				337,064
Provision for income taxes		24,196				30,452				51,697				53,840
Net income		$	196,888			$	144,793			$	377,254			$	283,224
Net income per share:
Basic		$	2.58			$	1.91			$	4.94			$	3.72
Diluted		$	2.47			$	1.83			$	4.73			$	3.56
Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share:
Basic		76,461				75,808				76,384				76,036
Diluted		79,710				79,298				79,677				79,620

ARISTA NETWORKS, INC. Reconciliation of Selected GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited, in thousands, except percentages and per share amounts)
		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
GAAP gross profit		$	454,178			$	344,089			$	879,450			$	682,340
GAAP gross margin		64.2		%		63.7		%		64.0		%		64.2		%
Stock-based compensation expense		1,796				1,585				3,196				2,912
Intangible asset amortization		5,465				4,178				10,929				7,838
Non-GAAP gross profit		$	461,439			$	349,852			$	893,575			$	693,090
Non-GAAP gross margin		65.2		%		64.7		%		65.0		%		65.2		%
GAAP income from operations		$	219,365			$	166,989			$	425,657			$	316,651
Stock-based compensation expense		44,944				32,922				82,497				60,478
Intangible asset amortization		7,365				5,811				14,795				10,713
Acquisition-related costs (1)		—				—				—				11,860
Non-GAAP income from operations		$	271,674			$	205,722			$	522,949			$	399,702
Non-GAAP operating margin		38.4		%		38.1		%		38.0		%		37.6		%
GAAP net income		$	196,888			$	144,793			$	377,254			$	283,224
Stock-based compensation expense		44,944				32,922				82,497				60,478
Intangible asset amortization		7,365				5,811				14,795				10,713
Acquisition-related costs (1)		—				—				—				11,860
Tax benefit on stock-based awards		(24,113		)		(11,682		)		(45,019		)		(26,184		)
Income tax effect on non-GAAP exclusions		(8,256		)		(4,796		)		(13,862		)		(11,351		)
Non-GAAP net income		$	216,828			$	167,048			$	415,665			$	328,740
GAAP diluted net income per share		$	2.47			$	1.83			$	4.73			$	3.56
Non-GAAP adjustments to net income		0.25				0.28				0.49				0.57
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share		$	2.72			$	2.11			$	5.22			$	4.13
Weighted-average shares used in computing diluted net income per share		79,710				79,298				79,677				79,620
Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense:
Cost of revenue		$	1,796			$	1,585			$	3,196			$	2,912
Research and development		23,139				19,378				45,121				35,306
Sales and marketing		11,368				8,277				21,453				14,673
General and administrative		8,641				3,682				12,727				7,587
Total		$	44,944			$	32,922			$	82,497			$	60,478
_____________________
(1) Represents non-recurring costs associated with our acquisition of Big Switch, and primarily includes severance, retention bonuses, professional and consulting fees, and facilities restructuring costs.

ARISTA NETWORKS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited, in thousands)
		June 30, 2021					December 31, 2020
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	893,688				$	893,219
Marketable securities		2,388,015					1,979,649
Accounts receivable		364,214					389,540
Inventories		543,199					479,668
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		139,279					94,922
Total current assets		4,328,395					3,836,998
Property and equipment, net		32,362					32,231
Acquisition-related intangible assets, net		107,995					122,790
Goodwill		188,277					189,696
Investments		13,647					8,314
Operating lease right-of-use assets		70,497					77,288
Deferred tax assets		433,674					441,531
Other assets		33,433					30,071
TOTAL ASSETS		$	5,208,280				$	4,738,919
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable		$	145,159				$	134,235
Accrued liabilities		163,245					143,357
Deferred revenue		482,112					396,259
Other current liabilities		69,419					94,392
Total current liabilities		859,935					768,243
Income taxes payable		57,977					53,053
Operating lease liabilities, non-current		64,295					72,397
Deferred revenue, non-current		263,978					254,568
Deferred tax liabilities, non-current		216,746					227,936
Other long-term liabilities		47,508					42,431
TOTAL LIABILITIES		1,510,439					1,418,628
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock		8					8
Additional paid-in capital		1,395,459					1,292,431
Retained earnings		2,303,513					2,027,614
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(1,139		)			238
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		3,697,841					3,320,291
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		$	5,208,280				$	4,738,919

ARISTA NETWORKS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited, in thousands)
		Six Months Ended June 30,
		2021					2020
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income		$	377,254				$	283,224
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and other		25,235					21,170
Stock-based compensation		82,497					60,478
Noncash lease expense		8,410					8,223
Deferred income taxes		(2,998		)			2,668
Amortization of investment premiums		12,121					2,938
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net		25,326					15,263
Inventories		(63,531		)			(82,891		)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(44,356		)			26,815
Other assets		(3,390		)			5,360
Accounts payable		10,879					31,473
Accrued liabilities		20,025					(39,882		)
Deferred revenue		95,263					(19,242		)
Income taxes payable		(9,144		)			16,820
Other liabilities		(15,550		)			646
Net cash provided by operating activities		518,041					333,063
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities		819,807					875,213
Purchases of marketable securities		(1,241,657		)			(1,236,477		)
Purchases of property and equipment		(9,567		)			(5,178		)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired		—					(66,317		)
Escrow receipts from past business acquisitions		1,419					—
Investment in privately-held companies and intangibles		(6,084		)			—
Net cash used in investing activities		(436,082		)			(432,759		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under equity plans		26,884					22,228
Tax withholding paid on behalf of employees for net share settlement		(6,353		)			(4,000		)
Repurchase of common stock		(101,355		)			(227,895		)
Net cash used in financing activities		(80,824		)			(209,667		)
Effect of exchange rate changes		(665		)			(1,663		)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH		470					(311,026		)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH —Beginning of period		897,454					1,115,515
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH —End of period		$	897,924				$	804,489

 

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FAQ

What are Arista Networks' Q2 2021 revenue results?

Arista Networks reported Q2 2021 revenue of $707.3 million, a 30.8% increase compared to Q2 2020.

What was the GAAP net income for Arista Networks in Q2 2021?

The GAAP net income for Q2 2021 was $196.9 million, or $2.47 per diluted share.

What is the revenue guidance for Arista Networks in Q3 2021?

Arista Networks expects Q3 2021 revenue between $725 million and $745 million.

What new products did Arista Networks launch in Q2 2021?

Arista launched a sub-100ns ultra-low latency switch and CloudVision 2021, enhancing network agility.

How does Arista Networks' Q2 2021 performance compare to Q2 2020?

In Q2 2021, revenue grew by 30.8%, and GAAP net income increased from $144.8 million to $196.9 million compared to Q2 2020.